Life saving device



Aug. 27, 1935;

V G. A. EVENDEN ET AL 2 LIFE SAVING DEVICE Filed July 50, 1934 Patented Aug. 27, 1935 George .A. Evenden and" George F. Wilson, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada Application july 30, 1934, Serial No. 737,527 7 soiaims. (o1. 9 17) This. invention relates to improvements in'pneumatic life saving devices for the personal use of swimmers and others similarly exposed to water perils, and consists of a collapsible or foldablebag composed of impermeable material adapted to be normally folded and carried in a suitable location about the costume orotherwise.

One important object of the invention is to provide an emergency pneumatic device for bathers, boatmen and the like adapted in an emergency to be brought into use quickly to'buoy the user without the preliminary necessity of manually effected inflation.

Another important object is to provide a device of the class specified which will be substantially delitescent when stowed for emergency use.-

Another important object 'is'to provide anormally latent device for the purpose specified which will be self-inflatable when desubmerged.

Another important object is to provide a'device of the kind described which will be simple, durable, efiective, and inexpensive to'manufacture.

With the above and other objects in view as will be hereinafter apparent, the invention consists in general of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawing and specifically claimed.

1 In the accompanying drawing like characters of reference indicate like views, and: 1 1

Figure 1 is an elevation of a life saving device as constructed in accordance with this invention;

parts in the several Figure 2 is a median cross-section of Figure 1;"

Figure 3 is a bottom view; Figure 4 is a representation of a distressed bather with the device extended above the surface and inflated; and,

Figure 5 is a representation of an erstwhile distressed bather with the device in use as a buoy.

In its present embodiment the invention consists of a bag In formed of flexible impermeable material such as, for instance sheet rubber, or

- waterproofed fabric. This material should not 45,

only be durable but light since the bag is normally folded into a pa k for stowing conveniently about the bathing costume.

Because of the amorphism of the bag when.

folded or packed it is not shown in that position i on the drawing.

The bag is preferably provided with a stifiening ring I2 at or near its. mouth margin or rim.

. This ring is relatively elastic and may be formed of light rubber tubing 01' strap enclosed in the tubular bag hem l3 as shown, or attached to the tic handgrip l-Lwhich is similarly capable'of if?" being folded together with the bag.

In use, the closed end ortip of the bag which has presumedly been left in the most conveniently accessible position is grasped by one hand and whipped or projected into the air in' an.in-' f8 'verted depending position. It immediately unfolds, its mouth opening undertherurge'cfthe stiffening ring, when it then spreads with the in.- flux of air. The hand grip-may then be grasped e by the other hand, and with bothhands the bag may be lowered'mouth down to' the surface, .or

it may be first dropped to the surface beforethe 7 hand grip is taken; hold of. When the rim of the bag has thus engaged the surface of .the water, or slightly submergesas it ismore or less bound to do under the weight of the user, no air or in any event only an inconsequential amount of air can escape. The above procedure is of course practically instantaneous. The bag thusacts as a buoy to which-the erstwhile distressed bather may cling by'meansof the hand grip until the arrival of assistance or until he can work his way I to shallow water. The capacity of the bag of course is such as to contain more than sufficient air to keep the user afloat.

There has thus been provided a simple andefficient device of the kind described and for the purpose specified. e l It is obvious that minor changes may be-made inqtheYform, and; construction of, the invention without departing from the material spirit'thereof. It is not, therefore, desired to confine the invention to the exact form herein shown and described, but it is desired to include all such as properly come within the scope claimed.

adapted to retain at least most of its air content 5 while in contact withthe water rimwise and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged rim down, and having the. capacity for sufficient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person.

2. In a life saving device consisting of an impervious bag having an open mouth, a relatively stiff elastic ring encircling the mouth of said bag,

said bag and ring being adapted to be normally folded into a pack, said bag being adapted to expand under the urge of said ring and to receive air through said mouth from the atmosphere when projected from the water, said bag being adapted to retain at least'most of its air content while in contact with the water mouth down and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged mouth down, and having the capacity for sufficient air to keep a person afioatwhen it is grasped by such person.

' 3. In a life saving device consisting of an open I atmosphere when projected from the water, said bag-being adapted to retain at least most of its air content while in contact with the water rimwise and also while partially submerged and while Wholly submerged-rim down, and having the capacityfor sufficient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person.

4. In a life saving device consisting of an :open

ended impervious .bag normally folded into a constrained pack, a relatively stifi elastic ring asso' ciated with said bag and adapted to befolded therewith, said ring being adapted to effect'opem ing of the bag automaticallyupon manuallyeffected relaxation of the constraint; the opened bag being adapted to receive air from the atmosphere when projected from the water, said bag being adapted to retain at least most of its air content while in contact with the water rimwise and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged rim down, and having the capacity for suflicient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person. 5. Ina life savingidevice consisting of an impervious bag having anopen mouth and adapted to be folded normally into a constricted pack, the

constriction being effected-by cramped confinement, a relatively stiff elastic ring associated with said bag and adapted to fold therewith, said ring being adaptedto eifect opening of the bag automatically upon its manually effected liberation, the opened b'ag Y being adapted to a receive air through said mouth from the atmosphere when projected from the water, said bag being adapted to retain at least most of its air content while in' contact with the water mouth down and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged mouth down, and having the capacity for sufficient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person.

6. In a life saving device consisting of an impervious'bag having an open mouth and normally folded into a constrained pack, a relatively stiff elastic ring associated with said bag and adapted to fold therewith, said ring being adapted to effect opening of the bag automatically upon manually effected relaxation of the constraint, the

opened bag being adapted to receive air through said mouth fromthe atmosphere when projected from the water, said bag being adapted to retain at least most ofits air content while in contact with the water mouth down and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged mouth down;v and having the capacity for sufficient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person.

'7. A life saving device consisting of an impervious baghaving an open mouth and provided with a relatively stiffened elastic banded portion concentric with said mouth, said bag including said banded portion being adapted to be folded normally into a constricted pack, the constriction being effected by cramped. confinement, said banded portion being adapted to effect opening of the bag automatically upon its manually effected liberation, the opened bag being adapted toreceive air through said mouth from the atmosphere when projected from the water,.said bag being adapted to retain at least most of its air content while in contact with the water mouth down and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged mouth down, and having-the capacity for sufficient air to keep a person I afloat when it'is-grasped by such person.

8. A life saving device consisting of an impervious-bag, having, an open mouth and provided with; a relatively stiffened elastic banded portion concentric Y with said mouth,,. said, bag including said banded, portion being adapted tobe' folded into a constrained pack, said b'and'edportion being adapted to effect opening of the .bag automatically upon; manually effected relaxation of the constraint, the opened bag being adapted to receive air through said mouth from the atmosphere when projectedfrom the water, said bag being adapted to retain at least most of. its air content while in contact with the water mouthdown and also while partially submerged and while wholly submerged mouth'down, and havingthe capacity for sufficient air to keep a person afloat when it is grasped by such person. GEORGE A. EVENDEN.

GEORGE F. WILS'ON.- 

